Hostess skills give way to mindfulness in Guides makeover
THOUSANDS of former Girl Guides will have fond memories of throwing parties and sleepovers to gain their coveted hostess badge.
But this badge is to be ditched amid the largest overhaul in the charity’s history. A lack of interest from girls means it has not been retained as part of a new programme, launched today. Instead girls will be able to earn new badges including Upcycling, Mindfulness, Vlogging, Craftivism and Self-care.
New tasks will include making a “mindful present” as part of the craftivism badge, with girls encouraged to create a gift that makes the receiver aware of an important issue, such as a sunglasses case decorated with a message about global warming. They will also be encouraged to rescue old clothes and furniture from being thrown away as part of the “upcycling” badge. A spokeswoman for Girl Guiding said that some of the new badges contained elements of the old badges but none of the old programme had been retained in its existing form. She said some of the skills included in the hostess badge would be incorporated into new badges.
Corporate sponsors have been involved in creating some of them, with easyjet working on the aviation badge and Google on digital design skills.
The £3 million programme, which has been in development for 18 months, will come in over the next year and be fully operational by September 2019.